theodore john



(No Model.)

A. T. JOHN. THUMB BRAOE FOR VIOLIN PLAYERS.

No. 389,085. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

N. PETERS, Phnluiflhugnohcr. Washington. in. CV

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. THEODORE JOHN,

on NEW roan, N. Y.

THUMB-BRACE FOR ViOLlN-PLAYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,085, datedSeptember a, 1888.

Application filed AprilEZl, 1888. Serial No. 271.442. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. THEODORE JOHN, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThumb-Braces for Violin-Players, of which the following is aspecification.

In learning to play the violin it is necessary to hold the bow in such amanner that the latter can be firmly yet easily passed over the strings.This is accomplished by the free motion of the wrist in connection withthe proper holding of the end of the bow by the fingers. To secure theproper hold of the bow, the thumb has to form an angle at the firstjoint, as thereby only the free and easy motion of the wrist can beobtained. To hold the thumb in proper position, especially to learners,is connected with some difficulty, as they are apt to hold the bow withstraight or inwardly-bent thumb, which, however, impedes the free motionof the wrist and prevents the production of a full tone.

My invention is designed to furnish a cheap and simple device by whichthe proper position of the thumb can be easily acquired by learners, andthereby the proper holding and leading of the bow be acquired withoutdiffrcnlty and with less trouble to the teacher; and the inventionconsists of a thumb-brace for violinplayers, which is composed of arigid angular brace, an elastic band attached to one side ofsaid braceand passed around the thumb, and means for fastening the other end ofthe band to the brace, as will be fully described hereinafter, andfinally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy improved thumb-brace for violin-players, shown in position for use,the hand and bow being shown in dotted lines; and Figs. 2 and 3 arerespectively a detail end view and a side view of the thumb-brace.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

In the drawings, A represents an angular body of a thumb-brace,wliichbody is made of sheet metal, hard rubber, or other rigid mate rial, andtransversely curved in such a manner as to fit the outer contour of thethumb at the firstjoint, so that the same is held at the proper anglefor holding the violin-bow. To a slot, (4, at one side of the shank ofthe brace is applied one end of an elastic band, B, the other side ofwhich is provided with a hook, O, that engages a slot or eye, I), at theopposite side of the shank, so as to attach the hook to the body of thebrace. Any suitable means by which the band B is attached to the shankof the brace A may be used. The brace A is placed on the thumb, as shownin the drawings, and the band passed around the same and attached by thehook to the shank of the brace and held firmly in position on the thumb.The brace A forms a support for the thumb and accustoms the same to thebent position required in playing the violin. It prevents thestraightening out of the thumb, and obvi ates thereby in an effectivemanner the possibility of holding the bow with straightened orinwardly-bent thumb. The brace facilitates the labors of the teacher aswell as of the learner, and forms a cheap and simple device for securingthe proper position of the thumb in holding the bow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A thumb-brace for violin-players, composed of anangular transversely-curved body and an elastic band applied to theshank of said brace, substantially as set forth.

2. A thumb brace for violin-players, composed of an angulartransversely-curved body, an elastic band attached at one end to theshank of said brace, and a hook attached to the other end of the bandand adapted to engage a slot or eye of the shank, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. THEODORE JOHN. iVitnesses:

PAUL GoErEL, llIARTIN PETRY.

